SELF ALIGNMENT STRUCTURE FOR APPLICATIONS JOINING EXTRUDED MEMBERS

• US 20170167090A1
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HFW Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HFW Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, Casey Dean, Tweedy, Bryan Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,915,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/122 using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/24 Frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 19/125 Grating or flooring for bridges waterproofing thereof E01D19/083; floors in general E04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 21/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for erecting or assembling bridges
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 2101/34 non-ferrous, e.g. aluminium

Abstract

A self alignment structure for applications joining extruded members is provided. The self-aligning structure may comprise one or more bridge decking members including an upper panel and a lower panel connected by webbing members therebetween. One side of the bridge decking member have a void space between the upper panel and lower panel and an other side the decking member may have a vertical webbing member between the upper panel and the lower panel. The self aligning structure may further include an upper shelf and lower shelf, each extending horizontally away from the vertical webbing member, operable to align a neighboring decking member, forming abutment joints in preparation for the application of a joining application, such as a friction stir welding tool.

Claims

1. a self-aligning structure for friction stir welding applications, comprising

a first bridge decking member having an upper and lower panel connected by webbing members therebetween,

a second bridge decking member having an upper and lower panel connected by webbing therebetween,

wherein the area of the upper panels extending away from the center of the first and second members comprise flanges with ends operable to form an abutment joints therebeween;

and

wherein the first bridge decking member further comprises an upper shelf extending horizontally beneath the abutment joint formed by the upper flanges;

a lower shelf extending horizontally above the abutment joint formed by the lower flanges, and

wherein the upper and lower shelf are connected by a vertical webbing member therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the second decking member has a void space between the upper and lower panels, and wherein the void space is filled by the vertical webbing member and upper and lower shelves of the first decking member

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the upper shelf of the first decking member has a horizontal face and wherein the horizontal face is in contact with the lower surface of the upper flange of the second member.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the lower shelf of the first decking member has a horizontal face and wherein the horizontal face is in contact with the upper surface of the lower flange of the second member.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the webbing members of the first decking member alternate between an angled position and a vertical position.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the webbing members of the second decking member alternate between an angled position and a vertical position.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein the webbing members of the first decking member form a triangle.

8. The structure of claim 5, wherein the webbing members of the second decking member form a triangle.

9. The structure of claim 6, wherein the vertical webbing member connecting the upper and lower shelves of the first decking member continue the alternation of angled positions and vertical positions as between the first and second decking members.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the vertical webbing member connecting the upper and lower shelves of the first decking member forms a triangle in the void space between the first and second decking members.

11. The structure of claim 4, further comprising extruded aluminum.

12. The structure of claim 4, further comprising a greater thickness of the upper panel and a lesser thickness of the lower panel.

13. a self-aligning structure for friction stir welding applications, wherein

a bridge decking member comprises

an upper panel and a lower panel connected by webbing members therebetween,

a side of the bridge decking member having a void space between the upper panel and the lower panel,

an other side of the bridge decking member having a vertical webbing member between the upper panel and the lower panel,

an upper shelf extending horizontally away from the vertical webbing member between the upper panel and lower panel operable to align a neighboring decking member, forming an abutment joint, and

a lower shelf extending horizontally away from the vertical webbing member between the upper panel and lower panel operable to align a neighboring webbing member, forming an abutment joint.

14. The structure of claim 13, further comprising a second replica structure, wherein the side of the replica structure having a void space is aligned with the side of the first structure having the shelves and vertical webbing therebetween.

15. The structure of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of triangles formed by the webbing members between the upper and lower panels.

16. The structure of claim 13, further comprising a flange with a blunt vertical end extending from the upper panel on the side of the decking member having the void space and a flange with a blunt vertical end extending from the lower panel on the side of the decking member having the void space.

17. The structure of claim 16, further comprising two perpendicular abutment surfaces formed by the flange of the upper panel and upper shelf extending from the side of the decking member having a vertical webbing member, and two perpendicular abutment surfaces formed by the flange of the lower panel and lower shelf extending from the side of the decking member having a vertical webbing member.

18. The structure of claim 17, wherein the blunt vertical end of the flange extending from the upper panel on the side of the decking member having the void space is configured to align with the two perpendicular abutment surfaces formed by the flange of the upper panel and the upper shelf extending from the side of the decking member having a vertical webbing member.

19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the blunt vertical end of the flange extending from the lower panel on the side of the decking member having the void space is configured to align with the two perpendicular abutment surfaces formed by the flange of the lower panel and the lower shelf extending from the side of the decking member having a vertical webbing member.